Pop Music

St. Paul and the Broken Bones perform to close out the Banjo Stage on day one of the 19th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival at Golden Gate Park on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. The festival will be held online in 2020 due to ongoing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival to move online

Organizers announce charitable fund for musicians

St. Paul and the Broken Bones perform to close out the Banjo Stage on day one of the 19th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival at Golden Gate Park on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. The festival will be held online in 2020 due to ongoing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore is releasing singles and corresponding acoustic versions in 2020. (Courtesy photo)

Gin Wigmore takes a stance against animal abuse

Songwriter’s new singles benefit wildlife conservation

Singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore is releasing singles and corresponding acoustic versions in 2020. (Courtesy photo)
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass hosts Los Lobos in its first live pandemic-era concert on July 25. (Courtesy David Alan Kogut)

Los Lobos to play live at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass stream

Bonnie Simmons hosts July 25 digital broadcast

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass hosts Los Lobos in its first live pandemic-era concert on July 25. (Courtesy David Alan Kogut)
John Waters is slated to return to host Burger Boogaloo in 2021. (Courtesy Erika Reinsel)

Burger Boogaloo cancels, back in 2021 with same lineup

East Bay punk fest returns with Bikini Kill, Circle Jerks, local acts

John Waters is slated to return to host Burger Boogaloo in 2021. (Courtesy Erika Reinsel)
Versatile vocalist CeeLo Green collaborated with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on his new solo album. (Courtesy photo)

CeeLo Green is Thomas Callaway, Elle King turns over new leaf

Vocalists try novel approaches on 2020 releases

Versatile vocalist CeeLo Green collaborated with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on his new solo album. (Courtesy photo)
Singer songwriter Andrew St. James, right, and his friend Scott Padden have been playing brief outdoor concerts in The City since mid-May. (Courtesy Ian Young)

Andrew St. James is enjoying Fast Times

S.F. music booster, songwriter releases new tunes, plays ‘drive-by’ concerts

Singer songwriter Andrew St. James, right, and his friend Scott Padden have been playing brief outdoor concerts in The City since mid-May. (Courtesy Ian Young)
Jessie Ware, finding success with her podcast “Table Manners,” enjoyed returning to music with her new solo album. (Courtesy Carlijn Jacobs)

Jessie Ware asks ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’

Pop singer has fun making music, talking about food

Jessie Ware, finding success with her podcast “Table Manners,” enjoyed returning to music with her new solo album. (Courtesy Carlijn Jacobs)
Mike Peters, frontman of The Alarm, is three-time cancer survivor who co-founded Love, Strength, Hope, a foundation with a mission to save lives through music. (Courtesy Jules Jones Peters)

The Alarm’s old albums take on deep new meanings

Mike Peters releases retrospective trilogy ‘Hurricane of Change’

Mike Peters, frontman of The Alarm, is three-time cancer survivor who co-founded Love, Strength, Hope, a foundation with a mission to save lives through music. (Courtesy Jules Jones Peters)
Tame Impala, pictured at Outside Lands in 2015, will be back for the 2021 festival. (Natasha Dangond, Special to S.F. Examiner)

Outside Lands to return in 2021 with Lizzo, Tame Impala, Strokes

2020 Golden Gate Park music and art fest canceled due to COVID-19

Tame Impala, pictured at Outside Lands in 2015, will be back for the 2021 festival. (Natasha Dangond, Special to S.F. Examiner)
Jehnny Beth says she set out to make a complex record that called for several listens. (Courtesy Steve Gullick)

Savages’ Jehnny Beth goes solo

‘To Love Is to Live’ is ambitious debut album

Jehnny Beth says she set out to make a complex record that called for several listens. (Courtesy Steve Gullick)
Big Freedia tops the entertainment lineup of San Francisco Pride’s 50th anniversary online programming. (Courtesy photo)

Queen of Bounce Big Freedia heads up online 2020 San Francisco Pride festivities

Betty Who, David Hernandez, Dorian Electra, Kidd Kenn also to appear

Big Freedia tops the entertainment lineup of San Francisco Pride’s 50th anniversary online programming. (Courtesy photo)
“Forest Bees” is the new self-titled CD by Sheetal Singh, formerly the bassist for The Stratford 4. (Courtesy Force Field PR)

Sheetal Singh re-emerges as Forest Bees

East Bay mom releases ethereal debut solo recording

“Forest Bees” is the new self-titled CD by Sheetal Singh, formerly the bassist for The Stratford 4. (Courtesy Force Field PR)
Nicole Atkins has been busy making new music and art during the pandemic. (Courtesy Barbara FG)

Friends join Nicole Atkins on soulful ‘Italian Ice’

Singer-songwriter releases album and shares concerts, art online

Nicole Atkins has been busy making new music and art during the pandemic. (Courtesy Barbara FG)
Community Music Center voice teacher Jonathan Smucker, accompanied by by Michael Mohammed, appeared in the first program of the organization’s annual Field Day fundraiser in the first of a week-long series on Facebook.(Courtesy photo)

Community Music Center kicks off virtual Field Day

Festive annual performance marathon raises funds for scholarships

Community Music Center voice teacher Jonathan Smucker, accompanied by by Michael Mohammed, appeared in the first program of the organization’s annual Field Day fundraiser in the first of a week-long series on Facebook.(Courtesy photo)
Children’s Musical Theater San Jose kicks off today’s virtual concert and fundraiser for a pavilion in San Jose’s St. James Park. (Courtesy photo)

May Day for the Arts promotes South Bay pavilion project

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose hosts community concert

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose kicks off today’s virtual concert and fundraiser for a pavilion in San Jose’s St. James Park. (Courtesy photo)
Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties have really taken off since the pandemic hit. (Courtesy photo)

Tim Burgess hosts fun online listening bashes

Charlatans UK frontman keeping busy during new solo album release

Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties have really taken off since the pandemic hit. (Courtesy photo)
Butch Walker’s new solo concept album “American Love Story” is catchy and diverse. (Courtesy Phil Chester and Sara Byrne)

Butch Walker’s many influences fuel ‘American Love Story’

In-demand producer’s rock opera is touching, ambitious

Butch Walker’s new solo concept album “American Love Story” is catchy and diverse. (Courtesy Phil Chester and Sara Byrne)
Katy Perry talks about her new song “Daisies” on Houseparty. (Courtesy Liza Voloshin)

Houseparty app hosts Katy Perry, Keegan-Michael Key, Alicia Keys

‘Experiential’ online event series features dozens of stars

Katy Perry talks about her new song “Daisies” on Houseparty. (Courtesy Liza Voloshin)
Stern Grove, the beloved longtime summer series of free outdoor concerts, has attracted thousands of fans for decades. (Courtesy Stern Grove Festival)

83rd Stern Grove canceled due to pandemic

S.F. free summer concert series called off for first time in history

Stern Grove, the beloved longtime summer series of free outdoor concerts, has attracted thousands of fans for decades. (Courtesy Stern Grove Festival)
From left, Adam Beck, Keven Tecon and Nick Ott are Houses of Heaven. (Courtesy Effixx)

Houses of Heaven debuts with ‘Silent Places’

Oakland trio fuses industrial, techno, shoegaze, dub on new album

From left, Adam Beck, Keven Tecon and Nick Ott are Houses of Heaven. (Courtesy Effixx)